Latest news with #Blackbaud
Fast Company
4 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
15 potential pitfalls to eliminate from the innovation process
In today's fast-moving world, it takes a spark of creativity to develop a unique product or service that will have a profound impact in the marketplace. But without a clear vision and structured path to take an idea from inception to execution, it won't make it across the finish line. However, breaking down the innovation process into manageable stages can help companies systematically develop solutions that address real-world pain points and create true value for every stakeholder involved. Here, 15 leading experts from Fast Company Executive Board each list the common mistakes some companies make when trying to innovate, and why these practices should be avoided. 1. WORKING IN SILOS INSTEAD OF COLLABORATION First, find the pain point. Better workplace experience outcomes are achieved when IT, facilities, and HR work together. By breaking down silos and working collaboratively, you can save time, optimize budgets, and allocate resources more effectively. Most of all, better meeting experiences result in more brainstorms and breakthroughs—key ingredients for accelerating innovation. – Prakash Arunkundrum, Logitech 2. MISCALCULATING THE TIME IT TAKES TO ADOPT INNOVATION Companies underestimate the time it will take for old technology to be replaced by the adoption of new technology. This is one common mistake leaders must avoid.- Jon Olson, Blackbaud, Inc. 3. OVERLOOKING THE JOURNEY OF BEING EDUCATED IN THE PROCESS Confusing when (and in what area) to innovate to get experience, rather than innovating with an expectation that it will linearly lead to a new product or business opportunity, is a mistake. It isn't okay to waste time and resources, but innovation is as much about what you learn from the journey as it is about the end result. If you don't have the appetite for that, you are better off focusing on being a fast follower. – Jason Kuperman, OUTFRONT Media 4. FAILING TO EQUIP TEAMS PROPERLY AND MOTIVATE THEM TO ENGAGE Common missteps are focusing too much on technology and not enough on the people and culture using it. Understand the root problems innovation solves, ensuring your team is aligned and motivated within an inclusive culture that fosters collaboration and feedback. This embeds innovation into the organizational mindset, providing the right tools rather than pushing new ideas for innovation's sake. – Larry Brinker Jr., BRINKER 5. CONFUSING TECHNICAL NOVELTY WITH ESSENTIAL INNOVATION A typical mistake companies make when trying to innovate is confusing technical novelty with true innovation. Avoid investing in solving technically interesting problems that don't translate into real-world value, usability, or growth. – Sezer Ovunc, Snapshot Reviews 6. COMMUNICATING INTENTIONS INCORRECTLY At times, our words don't match our intentions. If I'm encouraging my team to swing big, am I there to support them when they do? I try to model this behavior by continuing to swing big myself, but also ensuring that I am present to nudge and strengthen ideas or be a voice of support to others to help achieve their breakthroughs. Success creates momentum, and momentum can create a tidal wave! – Jeffrey Whitford, MilliporeSigma 7. IGNORING THE CUSTOMER'S POV Too often, the echo chamber is the barrier to innovation. We discover something truly amazing; we seek confirmation around us; we want to move. The problem? It has to be amazing to your customer or prospect. Company leaders must first define the needs and pain points from the consumer's point of view. Then, they must validate that their solution delivers. When those steps are skipped, the likelihood of success diminishes significantly. – Maury Giles, Material 8. DOING TOO MUCH WITH ONE PRODUCT One mistake is trying to create a product that solves a lot of problems. It's best to instead focus on developing a product that can solve a few critical issues and do them well. – Ruchir Nath, Dell Technologies 9. AIMLESSLY CHASING AFTER TRENDS Companies chase trends without anchoring them in strategy or customer insight. Innovation isn't about being first—it's about being relevant and intentional. To avoid this, we advise starting with data, listening to your audience, and aligning every new idea with your brand's core positioning. – Kristin Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC 10. MOVING TOO FAST ON DEVELOPMENT For too long, companies have tried to move fast and break things, but innovation comes from thinking expansively, not necessarily quickly. Instead of trying to break things, find gaps to close, which might mean building products that don't otherwise exist. Chances are, you won't solve systemic problems overnight, but you will innovate and inspire meaningful change in the process. – Caitlin MacGregor, Plum 11. MISUNDERSTANDING WHAT YOUR PROSPECTS NEED A common mistake is not understanding the business or user problem that you are trying to innovate against. The best innovation starts with focus—specifically, a laser focus on your audience. When you truly understand who you're serving—how they think, what they need, and where they struggle—you uncover real opportunities worth solving. – Sarah Buckler, Tangible 12. EXCLUDING POTENTIAL MARKET SEGMENTS Companies that have been around for a while and are trying to innovate need to make everyone feel safe and included. The people who say, 'We tried that before, and it didn't work,' can destroy progress. – Barry Lowenthal, Inuvo, Inc. 13. GIVING AN 'INNOVATION THEATER' PERFORMANCE A common pitfall is doing 'innovation theater'—when companies are dazzled by the latest shiny technology trend, whether agentic AI, quantum, or blockchain, without a clear business outcome or a solid data foundation to build it on. To avoid this, companies must start by understanding the core principle of applied innovation: Focus on the value first, then choose the technology to deliver it. – Joe Depa, EY 14. BUILDING AN 'INNOVATION TEAM' Don't treat innovation like a department; make it a habit. I've watched companies build 'innovation teams' that become expensive idea museums. At my company, we scrapped our innovation group and instead embedded 'possibility sessions' into every team's workflow. The virtual assistant who suggested our best product last year didn't need whiteboard walls, just permission to question the status quo. – Shayne Fitz-Coy, Sabot Family Companies 15. WAITING FOR YOUR IDEA TO BE 'PERFECT' A lot of companies stall innovation by chasing perfection or avoiding failure. You don't need to have it all figured out before testing something. Just ship, learn, and improve. The longer you wait for perfection, the more likely someone else gets there first with 'good enough.' – Travis Schreiber,
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Blackbaud (BLKB) Up 0.7% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Continue?
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Blackbaud (BLKB). Shares have added about 0.7% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Blackbaud due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers. It turns out, estimates review flatlined during the past month. Currently, Blackbaud has a strong Growth Score of A, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a D. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy. Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in. Blackbaud has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Blackbaud, Inc. (BLKB) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Cision Canada
6 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
New Report from the Blackbaud Institute Shows Clear Link Between Social Impact Organizations' Tech Use and Fundraising Revenue Growth
TORONTO, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ -- The Blackbaud Institute, a research lab at Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the leading provider of software for powering social impact, today released a new report, the Status of Canadian Fundraising: A Benchmarking Report for the AI Era, that provides insights from over 450 industry professionals across Canada. Through a collaboration between the Institute and the Blackbaud Canada team, this annual report provides essential year-over-year data on current fundraising trends in Canada, helping social impact professionals understand the sector and benchmark their performance. With a research focus on emerging innovations and digital maturity, the report also helps nonprofit organizations inform their digital fundraising strategies to maximize their impact. "As we navigate an era of rapid technological advancements, this research offers useful perspectives on how technology and innovation are being embraced by various organizations within the philanthropic sector," said Sean Laughlin, Canadian Markets Leader, Blackbaud. "One of the remarkable trends highlighted in this year's research is the growing recognition of AI as a tool to enhance fundraising impact and organizational efficiency. Our findings reveal a significant increase in social impact organizations exploring AI use, and those with high digital maturity are recognizing the substantial benefits of AI in fundraising, embracing it as a complementary tool that enhances, rather than replaces, the indispensable human touch that defines the sector. These efficient tech users are also experiencing enhanced growth, underscoring the importance of adequate tools for organizational success." Key Findings Nonprofit performance is trending positively. 66% of participants reported their income had increased or remained static over the last full financial year. 63% said they either met or exceeded their fundraising targets. All sectors identified the current economic landscape as the fundraising challenge that concerned them most. For the third consecutive year, fundraisers pointed to broader economic conditions as the fundraising challenge that concerned them most. Despite the prevalence of this concern, the majority of organizations saw their voluntary income from fundraising increase or remain consistent. Tech-savvy and innovative organizations are more likely to experience income growth. Those ranking their digital maturity score above average are significantly more likely to say that their income increased, suggesting that tech-savvy organizations are better able to capitalize on opportunities that help them grow. The sector is seeing significant growth in AI usage year on year, but adoption outpaces policy development. AI use has risen from 67% in 2024 to 83% in 2025, with most organizations employing AI tools at a higher rate than the previous year. Organizations are increasingly prioritizing and dedicating resources to AI adoption. While AI policy development is more prevalent this year—11% now having a policy in place compared to 5% in 2024—policy development remains critical given the rapid adoption. More research results can be found in the full report, The Status of Canadian Fundraising: A Benchmarking Report for the AI Era. All Blackbaud Institute resources are offered for free, as part of Blackbaud's commitment to accelerating social impact through data-driven insight. Supporting the Sector The findings of this year's Status of Canadian Fundraising report were previewed at this year's Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) national conference in April, where Blackbaud Canada was the presenting partner, and at the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) Convene Canada conference and Leading Forward executive forum, where Blackbaud was the Diamond Sponsor. The Blackbaud team was proud to have the opportunity to share this original research at both events and discuss how Blackbaud's technology innovations can empower nonprofits, educational institutions, and healthcare philanthropy organizations to raise more, reach further and deliver more impact for their causes. About the Blackbaud Institute The Blackbaud Institute develops leading-edge research and convenes expert voices to equip the social impact community with knowledge, insight, and confidence. The Blackbaud Institute draws from Blackbaud's data set, the most comprehensive in the social impact community. In addition, the Institute facilitates public research studies to drive original qualitative and quantitative insight. Our research agenda is grounded in a commitment to topics that social impact organizations can apply immediately to better understand, benchmark, and improve their essential business operations. We are guided by our commitment to the social impact sector to provide timely, transparent, and well-rounded research that is free to access. From how organizations run to how donors give, we're 100% focused on research and resources for this sector. About Blackbaud Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the leading software provider exclusively dedicated to powering social impact. Serving the nonprofit and education sectors, companies committed to social responsibility and individual change makers, Blackbaud's essential software is built to accelerate impact in fundraising, nonprofit financial management, digital giving, grantmaking, corporate social responsibility and education management. With millions of users and over $100 billion raised, granted or managed through Blackbaud platforms every year, Blackbaud's solutions are unleashing the potential of the people and organizations who change the world. Blackbaud has been named to Newsweek's list of America's Most Responsible Companies, Quartz's list of Best Companies for Remote Workers, and Forbes' list of America's Best Employers. A remote-first company, Blackbaud has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, India and the United Kingdom, supporting users in 100+ countries. Learn more at or follow us on X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Forward-looking Statements Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations and assumptions contained in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding expected benefits of products and product features. Although Blackbaud attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In addition, other important factors that could cause results to differ materially include the following: general economic risks; uncertainty regarding increased business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in sales growth; management of integration of acquired companies and other risks associated with acquisitions; risks associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings for Blackbaud, copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC's website at or upon request from Blackbaud's investor relations department. All Blackbaud product names appearing herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New Report from the Blackbaud Institute Shows Clear Link Between Social Impact Organizations' Tech Use and Fundraising Revenue Growth
Report Illustrates How Tech-Savvy Organizations Are Gaining a Competitive Edge in the Age of AI TORONTO, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ -- The Blackbaud Institute, a research lab at Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the leading provider of software for powering social impact, today released a new report, the Status of Canadian Fundraising: A Benchmarking Report for the AI Era, that provides insights from over 450 industry professionals across Canada. Through a collaboration between the Institute and the Blackbaud Canada team, this annual report provides essential year-over-year data on current fundraising trends in Canada, helping social impact professionals understand the sector and benchmark their performance. With a research focus on emerging innovations and digital maturity, the report also helps nonprofit organizations inform their digital fundraising strategies to maximize their impact. "As we navigate an era of rapid technological advancements, this research offers useful perspectives on how technology and innovation are being embraced by various organizations within the philanthropic sector," said Sean Laughlin, Canadian Markets Leader, Blackbaud. "One of the remarkable trends highlighted in this year's research is the growing recognition of AI as a tool to enhance fundraising impact and organizational efficiency. Our findings reveal a significant increase in social impact organizations exploring AI use, and those with high digital maturity are recognizing the substantial benefits of AI in fundraising, embracing it as a complementary tool that enhances, rather than replaces, the indispensable human touch that defines the sector. These efficient tech users are also experiencing enhanced growth, underscoring the importance of adequate tools for organizational success." Key Findings Nonprofit performance is trending positively. 66% of participants reported their income had increased or remained static over the last full financial year. 63% said they either met or exceeded their fundraising targets. All sectors identified the current economic landscape as the fundraising challenge that concerned them most. For the third consecutive year, fundraisers pointed to broader economic conditions as the fundraising challenge that concerned them most. Despite the prevalence of this concern, the majority of organizations saw their voluntary income from fundraising increase or remain consistent. Tech-savvy and innovative organizations are more likely to experience income growth. Those ranking their digital maturity score above average are significantly more likely to say that their income increased, suggesting that tech-savvy organizations are better able to capitalize on opportunities that help them grow. The sector is seeing significant growth in AI usage year on year, but adoption outpaces policy development. AI use has risen from 67% in 2024 to 83% in 2025, with most organizations employing AI tools at a higher rate than the previous year. Organizations are increasingly prioritizing and dedicating resources to AI adoption. While AI policy development is more prevalent this year—11% now having a policy in place compared to 5% in 2024—policy development remains critical given the rapid adoption. More research results can be found in the full report, The Status of Canadian Fundraising: A Benchmarking Report for the AI Era. All Blackbaud Institute resources are offered for free, as part of Blackbaud's commitment to accelerating social impact through data-driven insight. Supporting the Sector The findings of this year's Status of Canadian Fundraising report were previewed at this year's Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) national conference in April, where Blackbaud Canada was the presenting partner, and at the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) Convene Canada conference and Leading Forward executive forum, where Blackbaud was the Diamond Sponsor. The Blackbaud team was proud to have the opportunity to share this original research at both events and discuss how Blackbaud's technology innovations can empower nonprofits, educational institutions, and healthcare philanthropy organizations to raise more, reach further and deliver more impact for their causes. About the Blackbaud InstituteThe Blackbaud Institute develops leading-edge research and convenes expert voices to equip the social impact community with knowledge, insight, and confidence. The Blackbaud Institute draws from Blackbaud's data set, the most comprehensive in the social impact community. In addition, the Institute facilitates public research studies to drive original qualitative and quantitative insight. Our research agenda is grounded in a commitment to topics that social impact organizations can apply immediately to better understand, benchmark, and improve their essential business operations. We are guided by our commitment to the social impact sector to provide timely, transparent, and well-rounded research that is free to access. From how organizations run to how donors give, we're 100% focused on research and resources for this sector. About BlackbaudBlackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the leading software provider exclusively dedicated to powering social impact. Serving the nonprofit and education sectors, companies committed to social responsibility and individual change makers, Blackbaud's essential software is built to accelerate impact in fundraising, nonprofit financial management, digital giving, grantmaking, corporate social responsibility and education management. With millions of users and over $100 billion raised, granted or managed through Blackbaud platforms every year, Blackbaud's solutions are unleashing the potential of the people and organizations who change the world. Blackbaud has been named to Newsweek's list of America's Most Responsible Companies, Quartz's list of Best Companies for Remote Workers, and Forbes' list of America's Best Employers. A remote-first company, Blackbaud has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, India and the United Kingdom, supporting users in 100+ countries. Learn more at or follow us on X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Media Inquiriesmedia@ Forward-looking StatementsExcept for historical information, all of the statements, expectations and assumptions contained in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding expected benefits of products and product features. Although Blackbaud attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In addition, other important factors that could cause results to differ materially include the following: general economic risks; uncertainty regarding increased business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in sales growth; management of integration of acquired companies and other risks associated with acquisitions; risks associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings for Blackbaud, copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC's website at or upon request from Blackbaud's investor relations department. All Blackbaud product names appearing herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc. 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Cision Canada
19-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Blackbaud Named One of Newsweek's World's Greenest Companies 2025
Award Evaluates Global Sustainability Practices, ESG Performance Data and Key Environmental Metrics CHARLESTON, S.C., May 19, 2025 /CNW/ -- Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the leading provider of software for powering social impact, has been recognized by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group as one of the World's Greenest Companies 2025. This distinction is the result of one of the most comprehensive sustainability studies globally, incorporating expert assessments, ESG performance data, and millions of data points across key environmental metrics. "Blackbaud has a long-standing commitment to sustainability, which encompasses both reducing greenhouse gas emissions within our operations and supporting our customers in their sustainability journeys," said Margaret "Maggie" Driscoll, chief people and culture officer, Blackbaud. "Our employees continue to inspire me with their commitment as well, most recently in celebration of Earth Day, donating to sustainably plant trees through nonprofit One Tree Planted. This recognition from Newsweek acknowledges our commitment as global corporate citizens to address the issues that matter most to our people, our planet and our society." The World's Greenest Companies 2025 list recognizes the top 750 publicly listed companies across 26 countries for their environmental sustainability performance. The ranking is based on a comprehensive analysis of self-disclosed sustainability data conducted by GIST and Plant-A Insights Group. Over 8,000 companies were evaluated, and 750 were selected for inclusion based on their environmental sustainability performance. Eligibility required companies to meet the minimum sustainability standards established by the European Union—widely regarded as the most advanced globally—and to have publicly available sustainability disclosures and more than 1,000 employees. Over the past several years, Blackbaud has advanced its environmental, social, and governance priorities, continually improving business practices and setting high standards. Sustainability commitments include: Prioritizing responsible operations to reduce the company's energy and water use and enhance energy efficiency across all operations Maintaining decarbonization efforts with a 90% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions since 2019 Working with strategic partners that are making meaningful environmental impact, like Project Drawdown and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the recipient of Blackbaud's 2025 major gift Blackbaud has also been recognized on Newsweek's America's Most Responsible Companies 2025 list and was named to USA Today's list of America's Climate Leaders 2024. Blackbaud remains committed to advancing sustainability by reporting transparently on its own progress and offering innovative solutions that help social impact customers reduce their environmental impact as well. About Blackbaud Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the leading software provider exclusively dedicated to powering social impact. Serving the nonprofit and education sectors, companies committed to social responsibility and individual change makers, Blackbaud's essential software is built to accelerate impact in fundraising, nonprofit financial management, digital giving, grantmaking, corporate social responsibility and education management. With millions of users and over $100 billion raised, granted or managed through Blackbaud platforms every year, Blackbaud's solutions are unleashing the potential of the people and organizations who change the world. Blackbaud has been named to Newsweek's list of America's Most Responsible Companies, Quartz's list of Best Companies for Remote Workers, and Forbes' list of America's Best Employers. A remote-first company, Blackbaud has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, India and the United Kingdom, supporting users in 100+ countries. Learn more at or follow us on X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Forward-looking Statements Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations and assumptions contained in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding expected benefits of products and product features. Although Blackbaud attempts to be accurate in making these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such statements are based. In addition, other important factors that could cause results to differ materially include the following: general economic risks; uncertainty regarding increased business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in sales growth; management of integration of acquired companies and other risks associated with acquisitions; risks associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated software products; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; risks associated with management of growth; lengthy sales and implementation cycles; technological changes that make our products and services less competitive; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in the SEC filings for Blackbaud, copies of which are available free of charge at the SEC's website at or upon request from Blackbaud's investor relations department. All Blackbaud product names appearing herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc.
